Via The Stream, the Courthouse Library quietly launched their newest pilot project last week, a chat reference service. This service is part of the Courthouse Library’s strategic plan to reach out to lawyers outside of Vancouver, providing support to clients in their local libraries during hours in which they are not staffed.

Chat reference is currently available on all of the public computers in all local Courthouse Libraries. The hours when it is available are 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The chat reference service can be found on the start page of the Courthouse Library computers as a link under, “Need help now?”

Once a user clicks on the link, a chat window is opened where you can enter your reference question. Questions are then picked up by staff in Vancouver who will find the answer for you. What a great new innovation!